Stanford forward Nnemkadi Ogwumike (30) shoots for a basket over Arizona State forward Kimberly Brandon (25) during the second half of the NCAA college semifinals Pac-12 Conference tournament basketball game, Friday, March 9, 2012, in Los Angeles. Stanford won 52-43.

Arizona State guard Deja Mann, right, drives against Stanford guard Lindy La Rocque for a basket during the first half of an NCAA Pac-12 Conference tournament college basketball game, Friday, March 9, 2012, in Los Angeles.

Stanford forward Chiney Ogwumike (13) waves to supporters as she leaves the court with her team after defeating Arizona State during the NCAA college semifinals Pac-12 Conference tournament basketball game, Friday, March 9, 2012, in Los Angeles. Stanford won 52-43.

Playing against Arizona State is like wrestling a boa constrictor. It's hard to gain much leverage.

The Sun Devils rank 13th in the nation in defense, giving up just 52.5 points per game, and they showed why Friday afternoon. They held Stanford to four field goals in the second half, but the No. 2 Cardinal survived Arizona State's rugged defense and their own poor shooting to win 52-43 in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals at Staples Center.

"It was ugly," coach Tara VanDerveer conceded after her team made just four field goals in 26 tries in the second half, turning what looked like a rout at halftime into a nail-biter.

After shooting just 29 percent for the game, the Cardinal hope to regain their touch in today's 11:30 a.m. final against Cal.

Stanford reached 30 wins for the sixth straight time and the 11th under VanDerveer and has won 27 in a row since sustaining its only loss, to UConn on Nov. 21.

But this game was nearly historic for another reason. If it hadn't been for the Cardinal's free throws in the final minute, they might well have set a school record for fewest points in a win. They have won with just 51 points three times in their history.

"I can't tell you if it was something in the waffles this morning, or whatever it could be," VanDerveer said. "Some days you have games like that. Fortunately, we were able to overcome that (shooting) with great rebounding, excellent defense and not getting discouraged."

The top-seeded Cardinal can thank the Sisterhood for bailing them out in what was a six-point game with a minute to go. Nneka Ogwumike (24 points, 12 rebounds) then went 6-for-6 from the foul line to sew up the win. In the game, she hit all 10 of her free throws.

Her sister, Chiney, also had a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) and clamped a tight defensive vise on Kimberly Brandon. Arizona State's leading scorer, with a 10.1 average, Brandon was shut out and got off just one shot.

The non-Ogwumikes had a tough day for Stanford. They went 4-for-29 from the field and scored just 16 points.

A three-point play by Nneka Ogwumike with 3:44 left stopped Arizona State's momentum and ended a nine-minute Stanford drought without a field goal. The fourth-seeded Sun Devils (20-11) made it a very physical game with 6-foot-5 Kali Bennett and 6-3 Janae Fulcher muscling the sisters.

"What we wanted to do was to pressure the basketball and to make it difficult for them to be able to get the ball to the two sisters," said Joseph Anders, serving as Arizona State's interim coach during Charli Hunter Thorne's nine-month leave of absence. "We were able to do that and actually put their guards back on their heels."